Youth Resouces

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Palfrey describes her workers as studious and capable, illustrating positions in government, teaching, law firms, even decorated navy officers. No kidding.

She defended her workers, even boasting they are of the “Ann Taylor” variety. I resent it when sex workers classify themselves with retail chains! It is so sexist and arrogant! It’s purpose is to draw a distinction of class, and that distinction panders to a social acceptance of sex-for-money if it is in “good taste”.

But I digress. Seriously, Good for Palfrey for defending the dignity of her workers. I do not agree with her exposing her workers, but she appeared to be non-bias about who she exposes… as long as it assists her cause.

When I first heard about this case, it was about Randall Tobias. The stink of hypocrisy was so overwhelming, I wasn’t focusing on Palfrey herself. Seeing 20/20 tonight made me rethink her efforts. Now, I am happy that she won’t lay down for the F.B.I. SOMEONE needs to stand up and say “This is everywhere, ESPECIALLY in the same halls of government that condemn it.” Fear of criminalization and stigma has kept sex workers in fear of speaking out: about violence, about human rights, and even about hypocrisy. I guess when your worst nightmare of stigma and criminalization comes true, you have no more fear.

Hopefully this media storm with shed light on the fact that criminalization of prostitution scapegoats sex workers. Melissa Farley was oh-so-wrong when she fingered clients as “invisible”. It is sex workers who are invisible.

The clients are losing jobs and “reputation”, for whatever that means. Like all of this nation is not familiar with scandals erupting from finger-wagging moralists. I don’t believe ABC is familiar with the way government officials book appointments, and overlooked a few “prominent” people with that ignorance on top of possible threats from every D.C. attorney in the interest of their clients (and themselves). I am surprised they mobilized such a response considering their legal secretaries are on a “leave of absence”.

Meanwhile, organizations who advocate these invisible workers lose out on funding due to Tobias’ “anti-prostitution pledge” along with their efforts to stop the marginalization of workers worldwide, and a D.C. worker loses her life.